This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Yu Darvish, TEX vs. TB ($12,700): Darvish has started to pick up steam of late, striking out at least eight batters in three straight starts while holding opponents to four or fewer baserunners and one or fewer runs in two of those outings. He boasts an astronomical 11.45 K/9, and there's no risk of apathy setting in given that the Rangers are in need of a strong performance to hold onto their slim lead for home-field advantage over the Red Sox and Indians. Considering that Darvish's opposition will be a Rays team that has dropped nine of its last 10 and ranks 24th in runs per game, he's likely to deliver that strong performance.
Taijuan Walker, SEA vs. OAK ($8,900): Walker is another motivated pitcher in a good matchup, as he'll be facing Oakland's 29th-ranked offense with the Mariners in desperate need of a win two games out of the wild card with three to play. He has held the A's to three earned runs on 12 baserunners over 13.1 innings in two previous meetings, and can also generate extra value by missing bats, as indicated by a solid 8.14 K/9. With many other options possibly either resting or mailing it in for a non-contender, it makes sense to go with the high-upside Walker in a high-leverage situation.
CATCHER
Buster Posey, SF vs. LAD ($3,400): Dodgers veteran Rich Hill is starting to crash back to earth, having given up five runs over 10.1 innings en route to an 0-2 record in his last two starts. He's dealing with a blister, and should continue to struggle as his 0.34 HR/9 and 79.7 percent strand rate continue to revert closer to the 36-year-old lefty's career marks of 0.95 and 71.6 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Posey has been close to his usual dominant self against lefties, posting a .377 wOBA that likely only falls short of his career .399 mark because his BABIP is .021 lower than his norm. He's trending upward with seven RBI in the last five games, and he should continue to do so facing a pitcher that's clearly on the decline.
FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. DET ($5,400): Freeman has always hit right-handers well, so his prior success against Jordan Zimmermann (9-for-25 with six walks) isn't surprising. Since Zimmermann is having easily his worst season since 2010, the Braves first baseman should be able to further enhance his head-to-head dominance while adding to his .417 wOBA against righties. Throw in the fact that Freeman had gotten on base in a whopping 46 consecutive contests while hitting safely in 30 straight until going 0-for-4 Thursday, and it's hard to imagine a scenario in which he doesn't contribute in this one.
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett, MIL at COL ($4,500): Gennett has had a highly successful September, with four homers and seven doubles fueling a .271/.329/.543 line in 70 at-bats. Given that his final game of the month takes place in the baseball's highest-scoring venue (Coors Field), expect the second baseman to further enhance that line against struggling Rockies starter Chad Bettis, who has given up 10 runs in 10 innings over his last two starts.
THIRD BASE
Yangervis Solarte, SD at ARI ($4,200): It would be a shame not to take advantage of Diamondbacks righty Braden Shipley's home struggles (5.96 ERA and .406 wOBA allowed), and Solarte is the Padres hitter best positioned to do so. The switch-hitting third baseman's .357 wOBA from the left side shows that he prefers to bat that way, and he has propped up the heart of San Diego's order with hits in 20 of his last 21 games and 14 straight. Given the underwhelming opposition on the mound and the hitter-friendly environment (Chase Field trails only Coors Field with a 1.232 park factor), it's safe to expect Solarte to continue his strong form.
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor, CLE at KC ($3,900): Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura is slated to take the mound despite a back injury, which is good news for Lindor. The switch-hitting shortstop's .349 wOBA from the left side is far superior to his .309 mark while batting right-handed, and he already has four hits in his first nine at-bats against the flame-throwing starter. Ventura comes in having allowed at least three earned runs in five of his last six starts, further helping Lindor's case of snapping out of his recent slump.
OUTFIELD
Brett Gardner, NYY vs. BAL ($4,500): Gardner's solid 11.1 percent walk rate and position atop the Yankees' order make him likely to find success against a pitcher that walks a lot of batters and gives up plenty of runs. Ubaldo Jimenez's 5.71 ERA is due in large part to a 4.58 BB/9, and he has been horrid against lefties like Gardner with a .380 wOBA allowed over a 263-hitter sample size. The veteran outfielder has been on base 12 times in the last five games, and that trend is likely to continue given the weak option on the mound for the Orioles.
Adam Jones, BAL at NYY ($3,500): The price is right to invest in Jones, as he costs just $3,500 heading into a do-or-die series for the Orioles at the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. His .344 wOBA against righties represents what is by far the leadoff man's stronger split, and he's always a threat to hit one out of the park with 28 long balls on the year already. Yankees starter Michael Pineda is giving up a career high 1.31 HR/9, plus Jones is almost certain to get some looks against the bullpen given that the right-hander hasn't pitched more than six innings in any of his last 11 starts. With some top options around the league pumping the brakes in preparation for the playoffs, going with the highly motivated outfielder makes even more sense.
Gregory Polanco, PIT at STL ($4,600): Polanco loves to face Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez, and a stiff neck is unlikely to keep him from producing. Pittsburgh's cleanup hitter is 10-for-19 with five extra-base hits in his career against the right-hander, whose wOBA allowed to lefties is .080 higher than his mark against righties. Polanco also brings a speed element, with steals in three of his last five games bringing the young outfielder's total to a respectable 16 to go with his team-leading 86 RBI.
